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Car seat safety: Avoid 9 common mistakes
3. Using the car seat outside of the car
4. Incorrectly installing the car seat or buckling up your child
5. Reclining your child at the incorrect angle
6. Moving to a forward-facing car seat too soon
7. Not removing your child's heavy outerwear
8. Moving to a booster seat too soon
9. Incorrectly using a booster seat
10. Transitioning to a safety belt too soon
9. Transitioning to a safety belt too soon
Content
1. Getting a used car seat without doing your homework
2. Placing the car seat in the wrong spot
3. Incorrectly installing the car seat or buckling up your child
4. Reclining your child at the incorrect angle
5. Moving to a forward-facing car seat too soon
6. Not removing your child's heavy outerwear
7. Moving to a booster seat too soon
8. Incorrectly using a booster seat
9. Transitioning to a seat belt too soon
2. Placing the car seat in the wrong spot
The safest place for your child's car seat is in the back seat, away from active air bags. If the car seat is placed in the front seat and the air bag inflates, it could hit the back of a rear-facing car seat — right where the child's head is — and cause a serious or fatal injury. An air bag could also hit and harm a child riding in a forward-facing car seat.
Vehicles that have only one row of seats, such as certain pickup trucks, should only be used if the air bag can be turned off with a key.
If you're placing only one car seat in the back seat, install it in the center of the seat — if a good fit is possible. Placing the car seat in the center minimizes the risk of injury during a crash.
